Anhelo Coffee — Restaurant in East Los Angeles

My wife and I were on the hunt for a new matcha spot, and Anhelo Coffee popped up as a recommendation. What immediately caught my attention was the motto sign outside: “Latina owned. Immigrant built. Community grown.” — Such a clever and powerful way to highlight pride in Hispanic culture. That alone made me want to support this place.

The second thing that stood out was the outdoor seating area. Not many coffee shops in Los Angeles offer this, and it’s a refreshing touch that makes it easy to sit, relax, and enjoy your drink.

Once inside, the vibe is quiet, cozy, and family-friendly. The baristas always greet you with a nice “Good morning!” and the music is at a perfect volume — Present, but never distracting. The staff here is consistently friendly, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about their drinks. They often remember your name, which makes the whole experience feel more personal.

I was deciding between two drinks and the barista recommended I try the Strawberry Matcha. I’m so glad I did! The presentation, portion size, and taste were all a 10/10 for myself and for my wife. The uniqueness of the pink creamer they drizzle on top is what makes this drink stand out from any other strawberry matcha we’ve had — It’s surprisingly delicious and instantly made me want to come back for more. And believe me, we’ve been back 5 times!

Parking can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely doable with plenty of street parking if you don’t mind a short walk.

Pro Tip: For every drink you buy, you earn points toward a free one — And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a free drink?

Overall, Anhelo Coffee has quickly become one of my favorite spots. Between the nice staff, the drinks, and cultural pride they showcase, it’s worth checking out whether you’re a matcha lover or just looking for a cozy new coffee shop in Los Angeles. I...

Wow! I’m not very picky about coffee. I will drink any kind and any quality, but when it stands out, it stands out. I ordered the banana cream iced latte. I love banana, but I was worried that it might be classic artificial banana flavor more akin to a laffy taffy. However, I was delightfully surprised that my iced latte tasted so much like real banana pudding. The banana was not overpowering in the slightest, it wasn’t super sweet, and the coffee flavor still shone through. It even came with nilla wafer crumbs on top! 10/10 coffee. The business is also “Latina owned, immigrant built, community grown,” and to support that was only a plus. The barista was kind and welcomed me the second I walked in the door. The atmosphere was calm and decorated beautifully with plenty of seating available. I live in NYC, but love finding amazing places like this every...

I was super excited when a new coffee shop opened so close to home (walking distance) and couldn’t wait to check it out and I finally got to go today 😭. The staff were super friendly and attentive, I wish I had been able to stay because it’s such a cozy space but maybe next time. I got the toffee latte with dream foam (iced) and it was a perfectly balanced drink ; u ; I also ordered a pumpkin coffee cake (warm) and it was super yummy as well. For my siblings I got them a London dog and drip coffee - both of which they will try once they get home from work but I’m sure they’ll be really good from what I have had so far. Grateful to have them in the community, wishing them the best of luck and hope they become a space where our community can gather for many...